Chapter 4

My daughter continued, "Mom, you just have to be there for me every day and listen to what I have to say. That's all I need."

My eyes grew hot as I suddenly realized how mature and thoughtful my daughter was.

"Okay. Then you can tell me anything from now on!"

Suddenly, my phone buzzed. Looking at the incoming call from my daughter, I started feeling at a loss.

If she knew I was only five years old, would she no longer let me be her mom?

After much thought, I still chose to answer the call.

On the other end of the line came the sound of rainwater pattering on the floor and a young lady's voice. "Hello. Thank you for agreeing to be there for me in my mom's place."

Though I tried to deepen my voice, the sweet, high-pitched tone slipped out anyway. "That's what mommies are supposed to do!"

Her voice trembled slightly. "Thank you. At the moment, you're the only one willing to keep me company besides Ollie."

I tilted my head to one side. "Who's Ollie?"

"She's the cat my mom used to keep. She's nine now, so she's an old cat."

As she spoke, she took a picture of her cat and sent it to me.

The orange tabby cat in the picture was round and chubby, but the tips of its fur had gone a little gray. It was clear that it was getting on in years.

I exclaimed in delight, "Wow, what a cute little kitty! Now that you have me and the kitty by your side, you shouldn't be sad anymore!"

"Alright. I won't be sad."

And so, every night, we talked on the phone. My daughter would share the funny things that happened at school and tell me how growing up was a joyful yet challenging journey.

I would then pick up the new storybooks Mom had just bought me and read her the stories.

Dad and Mom stood at my bedroom door, looking a little jealous.

Shaking their heads, they sighed helplessly. "I knew it. Once our daughter has her own child, she won't care about us anymore!"

"Sweetheart, are you not sleeping with Mom again tonight?"

I looked up at them and exclaimed, "Mom, my daughter's name is Abigail Sanford. Her name is so pretty! It sounds like the name of a sweet little princess!"

Dad nodded in resignation. "Yeah, it is. And your daughter is much better than mine."

Pouting, I retorted, "Your daughter's not bad either!"

But after that, everything began to change.

For three nights in a row, I would lie sprawled on the ground, waiting in anticipation for my precious daughter's call.

Yet, no calls came. I did not even receive the usual texts I would usually receive daily.

A feeling of dread started to creep into my heart.

Could something have happened to her?

Just as I was anxiously trying to figure out what to do, a sudden message popped up on my screen.

"Help me!"

I quickly shook Mom and Dad awake, crying out in worry, "Mom, Dad, Abigail is in danger! Let's go save her!"

…

This was my first time coming to the neighborhood where my daughter lived.

Even though it was already late at night, a crowd had gathered around the building. People had smiles on their faces as if watching a spectacle.

"Did you hear? Abby's stepmom tried to set her up on a blind date with an old man! Abby refused, so her stepmom tossed the cat out the apartment window!"

"That's a stepmother for you—truly vicious! I don't know what Abby's dad was thinking, bringing an outsider home to look after his child!"

"So what? Her dad's a sailor who's gone at sea all year long. Who's going to meddle in their family business with him not around?"

In the middle of the crowd, a thin, frail young lady was clutching a bleeding cat tightly in her arms.

Looking around helplessly, she begged the crowd for help.